Adjustable instrumentation for spinal implant insertion

Abstract

A plurality of differently configured bone spinal implants for insertion in a spine have a cylindrical bore for receiving an insertion head stud. A plurality of instruments are disclosed each of which have a first connection element which is either a male or female member such as e.g., a ball and socket, a cylinder and socket and so on for forming either a stationary or articulating interchangeable joint for a plurality of disc processing heads or implant insertion heads. The plurality of disc space processing heads or implant insertion heads have a complementary second joint member for interchangeable attachment to the first connection element. The implant insertion heads or disc processing heads have different configurations for different shaped implants. Different instrument insertion or disc processing heads such as implant inserters, impactors, rasps, distractors, curettes, rongeur, and so on are disclosed as being interchangeable with a common instrument in which articulating or fixed joints are provided the interchangeable heads.

1. A surgical instrument for processing an intervertebral disc space and/or for insertion of a spinal implant into the processed space comprising:
 a shaft having a first axis; 
 a first joint element coupled to the shaft; and 
 at least two different heads for said processing and/or insertion, each of the different heads for selective attachment to the shaft, each head having a second longitudinal axis and a second joint element which mates with the first joint element, the first and second joint elements forming a joint for attaching each selected head to the shaft, 
 wherein the at least two different heads are selected from a group consisting of any two different head configurations, the configurations forming categories, each category having one or more different configurations, the categories including a chisel, an implant gripping head, an implant impacting head, an implant inserter, a rasp, a distractor, a trial, a curette and a rongeur; 
 wherein the joint is configured for permitting pivoting of the second longitudinal axis of each selected head in at least three directions relative to the first axis, and 
 wherein the second longitudinal axis is collinear with the first axis in at least one orientation of the selected head. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein the first and second joint elements are mating complementary first and second articulation elements to permit articulation of one of the at least two heads relative to the shaft. 
     
     
       3. The surgical instrument of  claim 2  wherein the first articulation element comprises one of a ball, cylinder, or socket and the second articulation element has a configuration complementary to the respective one ball, cylinder or socket for releasably and movably mating to the respective one ball, cylinder or socket. 
     
     
       4. The surgical instrument of  claim 3  wherein the cylinder or ball is attached to the shaft or one of the at least two heads, and the socket is mounted in the other of said shaft or one of the at least two heads. 
     
     
       5. The surgical instrument of  claim 3  wherein the cylinder or ball is integral with the shaft or one of the at least two heads. 
     
     
       6. The surgical instrument of  claim 3  wherein one of the at least two heads further includes a distal end opposite the second articulation element, the distal end having a cantilevered side wall extending from a distal end wall, and the distal end wall having a stud attached thereto extending substantially parallel to the cantilevered side wall. 
     
     
       7. The surgical instrument of  claim 2  wherein one of the first or the second articulation elements includes an engagement member for releasably engaging the other articulation element, and the engagement member is adapted to allow angular positioning between the first and second articulation elements. 
     
     
       8. The surgical instrument of  claim 1  further including a connection arrangement secured to the shaft for temporarily fixedly securing any of the selected heads to the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The surgical instrument of  claim 8  wherein the connection arrangement is for securing the selected heads in any one of selected different orientations relative to the first axis. 
     
     
       10. The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein the joint elements are configured for permitting each selected head to be positioned at any of a plurality of angular orientations relative to the first axis. 
     
     
       11. The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein the at least two different heads are in the same or different categories. 
     
     
       12. The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein the at least two different heads are in different categories. 
     
     
       13. The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , the first joint element comprising a ball extending from the shaft and the second joint element comprising a spherical socket complementary to and for receiving the ball in each of the at least two heads forming the second joint element, the rod being arranged for displacing the ball in opposite directions along the first axis for selective releasing the attached head or for fixedly securing the attached head to the shaft in a given one of said different orientations. 
     
     
       14. The surgical instrument of  claim 1  wherein one head of the at least two heads is an implant inserter. 
     
     
       15. The surgical instrument of  claim 14  wherein the one head has opposite first and second ends and the second joint element is a socket in communication with the first end, the second end having an implant engaging surface for engaging a first implant surface and an implant engaging projection extending from the first implant engaging surface for engaging a mating implant bore. 
     
     
       16. A surgical instrument for processing an intervertebral disc space and/or for insertion of a spinal implant into the processed space comprising:
 a shaft having a first axis; 
 a first joint element coupled to the shaft; and 
 a head for said processing and/or insertion having a second longitudinal axis and a second joint element which mates with the first joint element, the first and second joint elements forming a joint for permitting pivoting of the second longitudinal axis of the head in at least three directions relative to the first axis, 
 wherein the head is of a configuration selected from the group consisting of chisels, implant gripping heads, implant impacting heads, implant inserters, rasps, distractors, trials, curettes, and rongeurs; and 
 wherein the second longitudinal axis is collinear with the first axis in at least one orientation of the head. 
 
     
     
       17. A surgical instrument for processing an intervertebral disc space and/or for insertion of a spinal implant into the processed space comprising:
 a shaft having a first axis; 
 a first joint element coupled to the shaft; 
 a connection arrangement secured to the shaft; and 
 a head for said processing and/or insertion coupled to the shaft, the head having a second longitudinal axis and a second joint element which mates with the first joint element, the first and second joint elements forming a joint for coupling the head to the shaft; 
 wherein the head comprises a distal end comprising an arcuate implant receiving wall and an implant engaging member extending from said implant receiving wall; 
 wherein the joint is configured for permitting pivoting of the second longitudinal axis of the head in at least three directions relative to the first axis; 
 wherein the second longitudinal axis is generally collinear with the first axis in at least one orientation of the head; and 
 wherein the connection arrangement is adapted to fixedly secure the head in an orientation in which the second longitudinal axis is angled with respect to the first axis. 
 
     
     
       18. The surgical instrument of  claim 17  wherein the head further comprises an end face opposite the implant receiving wall, the end face comprising one of a convex and a concave surface configured to mate with a complementary surface of the shaft.